Fore-and-aft-rigged vessel



No. 625,l32. Patented ma l6, I899.

a. E. ALBEE.

FORE AND AFT BIGGED VESSEL.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ALBEE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

FORE-AND-AFT- RlGGED VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters retentive. 625,132, dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed etuhei'1'7,1898. $e1'ial No. 693 846. (N0 model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG-EE. .ALBEE, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Fore-and-Aft-Rigged Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawing constitutes part of this specification, and

I represents a side view of a two-masted schooner embodying my invention.

This invention relates to an improvement in the rigging of fore-and-aft vessels having two or more masts.

As is well known, when sailing the outer ends of the gafis of the foresails sag to leeward, so that a large proportion of the force of the wind is lost, and this sagging not only prevents the lower sails, but also the gaff-topsails, from properly drawing.

The object of this invention is to prevent the sagging to leeward of the outer ends of the gaffs of vessels; and it consists in securing to the outer ends of the gaffs a rope which extends through a pulley or eye fixed to the head of the mast next aft of the mast carrying the gafi or to some point in the rigging and from thence to the declgwherebythe peak maybe hauled to windward into its proper position.

For convenience of illustration I have shown my invention as applied to a twomasted schooner; but it is apparent that it is equally applicable for fore-and aft-rigged vessels having a greater number of masts.

The sails and rigging of the vessel as herein shown are of usual arrangement, and except as necessary will not be specifically referred to.

To the outer end A of the gaff B of the foresail O, I secure what I will hereinafter term a gaff trimming-line D,which is rove through a pulley block E, or it may be an eye, ring, or similar device, secured near the head of the mainmast F below the spring stay G and at a point in line with or above and thence to the deck,where it may be made fast in the usual manner.

If the vessel has more than two masts, it will be understood that the respective rings or eyes will be secured to themast or'portion of the rigging next aft of the gaff to which the trimming-line is secured.

Instead of making the block or eye fast to the mast it may be connected with the springstay, shroud, or other convenient point in the rigging, it only being essential that the block or eye shall be in position so that the gaif may be hauled to windward.

With a gaff trimming-line as herein shown the upper part of the foresail maybe trimmed as Wellas the gaff-.topsail H or other sails which are secured or sheeted to the gaif, and so that the peak may be hauled to windward and the efficiency of the sails increased.

It is apparent that instead of passing the free end of the gaff trimming-line to the deck it may be secured to the masthead or at other convenient points in the rigging, as on long 'tacks this sheet would not have to be ad- 3' usted, but if need be is readily reached from the masthead. Furthermore, instead of making the end of the gaff trimming-line fast to the outer end of the gaffthe sheet may be secured by a bight around the end of the gaff and the free end extended to the deck, so that it may be used as a downhaul for the gaff.

Having fully described my inventiomwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel, the combination with the gaff, of a gaff trimming-line secured to the outer end of said gaff, said gaff trimming-line extending to a point aft of the outer end of and in line with or above said gaif and means for securing said line, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ALBEE.

Witnesses:

FREDEBIO (l. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELSEY. 

